ATCON envisages more than 10% broadband growth in 2021

ATCON envisages more than 10% broadband growth in 2021

Despite its recent declines as a result of ongoing audit of telecoms customer databases, broadband penetration in Nigeria is expected by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) to grow more than 10 per cent this year.

The optimism was expressed by Ikechukwu Nnamani, the President of the association in his welcome address at a Virtual Structured Engagement with Key Stakeholders in the Nigerian Telecom & ICT Sector on the New National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 held on Thursday.

Nnamani noted that in the year 2020, Isa Pantami, the minister of communications and digital economy announced that Nigeria’s broadband penetration increased by 10 per cent over the previous year, from 33.3 per cent to 43.3 per cent.

“With this positive development, we are hopeful that this year’s penetration rate would surpass that of 2020 as this event plans to encourage every segment of the sector to double their efforts in terms of encouraging further penetration,” the ATCON president said.

According to data obtained from the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), connection to 3G and 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks which constitute broadband stood at 81,949,983, equivalent to 42.93 per cent as at January this year.

The current figure had fallen from 85,941,222 or 45.02 per cent in December 2020, and down from 86,031,162 or 45.07 per cent in November, having reached an all-time height of 87,675,911 or 45.93 per cent in October 2020.

As he welcomed participants to the high-powered virtual event which is put together to have a conversation around the New National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 with a view to ascertaining the status of the implementation, identifying any bottlenecks to successful implementation that may still exist, and he assured that stakeholders in their deliberation will also proffer lasting solutions to issues that are likely to constitute an obstacle to the eventual realization of the 70 per cent Broadband penetration target.

Engr Ikechukwu Nnamani, ATCON President

Nnamani  told ATCON members, who according to him, have been making right decisions to put the industry on continuous growth trajectory and who helped get Nigeria out of the recent economic recession, that their efforts are well noted and commended.

He said: “I like to use this opportunity to appeal that you don’t rest on your oars because the realization of 70 per cent broadband penetration target depends considerably on you in the coming years.

“The development of a solid digital economy rests on the foundation of a well distributed broadband infrastructure and involves the convergence of all technology types and classes of service.

“To this end we have brought together key industry leaders cutting across the nine sub-group of ATCON’s membership to discuss and strategize with the leadership of the public sector on the best ways to achieve an accelerated implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan.

“This includes our members from: Telephone Operators (PNL/Fixed Line Operators, MNOs/IDAs Operators), Infrastructure Providers (Interconnect, Data Centre Operators, Towers/Base Stations Providers); Internet Services Providers (ISP) (Wholesale Segment, Retail Segment), Value Added Services Providers (VAS), Over The Top (OTT) Players, FINTECH/e-Commerce Operators, Telecom/ICT Equipment Manufacturers, Telecom/ICT Consulting firms, and Telecom/ICT Equipment Dealers.”

As he set the tone for the discussion, Nnamani further highlighted the objectives of the virtual meeting to include ascertaining the status of the implementation of the NNBP 2020-2025; and Identifying any potential bottlenecks that may negatively impact on the smooth implementation of the plan and proffer necessary solutions to mitigate against them.

Others are leveraging on the wide spectrum of ATCON sub-groups for effective participation in the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 by giving them the opportunity to access the plan and suggest various ways to speed up the realization of the established target by the government; and to serve as a veritable platform to align the objectives and expectations of the private and public sector.